Marijuana: the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. By definition, it sounds harmless. Although, marijuana, also referred to as Cannabis, is illegal to purchase, sell, and grow under our federal law. The national government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act. They do not recognize the difference between medical and recreational use of cannabis. (Federal Marijuana Law) Essentially, the law treats marijuana like the harder drugs, such as heroin or cocaine. The federal government ranks every substance with a schedule, according to its potential for abuse and medicinal worth. Under the Controlled Substance Act, cannabis is categorized as a Schedule I drug, which means it is supposed to be highly addictive and has no beneficial use towards health. (Federal Marijuana Law) It is illegal for doctors to “prescribe” marijuana, but under the First Amendment, medical professionals can casually “suggest” its use. …show more content…
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia presently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, mostly for medical reasons. (U.S. Medical Marijuana Laws) Other states are predicted to join in soon as well. Eight out of those states have actually permitted the most capacious laws allowing marijuana to be used recreationally. For instance, California allows adults 21 and older to have up to one ounce of marijuana at a time and grow up to six plants on their property. (Federal Marijuana Law) Also, a number of states have decriminalized the possession of marijuana, as long as it’s in small quantities. The medical marijuana laws, however, are somewhat broad and the types of medical conditions that allow for treatment vary from state to